Redemption (21 page)

Will’s hand clenched around the toolbox handle.
Alex is right about one thing. I’m coming to get you.

No
!
I’m in with Alex now, which is what you wanted. Right
?
Just wait until after the fundraiser dinner and I’ll tell you when it’s safe to come
.

Will didn’t like the idea of leaving her in Alex’s suite, but he had to admit that she was right. This was going better than he could have hoped. And that worried him.
Okay, but the first sign of trouble and I’m coming to get you.

I’m counting on that.

Be careful, Emma.

I’m fine. He’s been well-behaved and he’s left me alone while he gets ready for his dinner.

What room are you in
?

She didn’t answer for several seconds
. I think I’m in 2146.

You think?

I wasn’t exactly paying attention to the number on the door when Alex invited me in.

Will sighed. That was the difference between the two of them, further proof he was an idiot to let her do this. He would not only know the room number but the location of the air vents, the supply closet, and the fire hose
. Can you find out for sure? Check the phone?

There is no phone
.

Fear mixed with Will’s dread.
He’s not protecting you, Emma. He’s keeping you prisoner.

I’m not an idiot. I’m willing to see this through for a bit to get more information from him
.

While it went against Will’s instinct, it seemed the smartest thing to do.
Okay, but if he acts like he’s going to hurt you, just touch him.

I’m not sure that works anymore.

He paused.
What are you talking about
?

He insinuated it didn’t work. Maybe it’s because you and I joined.

He told you that to make you think you’d lost your upper hand. He’s bluffing, Emma. You should have just touched him.

I want him to trust me.

You really think he’s going to trust you
?

He’s not going to if I’m trying to touch him.

I don’t like the idea of you being with him for so long. Tell him you have to leave.

He’s going down to his dinner. I considered telling him that I need to get my things from my room, but I don’t want to lead his men there. You know I’ll be followed
.

Will ran his fingers through his hair.
Yeah, you’re right. But he’ll think it suspicious if you don’t want to get your things.

I’ll snoop around after he leaves and see if I can find anything.

Be careful, Emma.

You too
.

She was in. That was the plan, even if it was hours earlier than expected. The guards by the door didn’t surprise him. He’d figured he w ould encounter them when he found Alex. But if he had to dispose of them now, Alex and his security team would be alerted to his presence. Emma needed to stay.

***

Jake knelt on the cracked pavement and vomited into a puddle. A puddle of rain he’d just created. He’d held in his nausea as long as he could, but this city was worse than last. There were more people. More kids hurt by Raphael’s earthquake. And because of the wind in his storm. Jake tried to close his eyes, but Aiden burned his arm and forced him to watch.

There had been so much blood.

He threw up again, but there was nothing left to heave out. His stomach clenched in spasms, and tears stung his eyes. His wet clothes clung to his body and he shivered uncontrollably in spite of the heat.

“Get up, Jake. We need to go.” Aiden’s voice was cold and distant.

Hatred exploded in Jake’s head. He hated Aiden. Hated Raphael. Hated Will. If it weren’t for Will, Mommy would be here saving him.

Mommy
! he screamed in his head.

Nothing.

He choked back a sob.

“Calling your mother is a waste of time. I told you that Will forced her to choose. He blocked her from you.”

“
No
.” Jake pushed the word through his gritted teeth. His body ignited, heat building until he was sure he’d burst into flames.

“Jake.”

Aiden’s voice angered him even more, but he added it to the energy growing inside him. The power he’d used to make the storm was nothing compared to this.

Raphael slowly backed away, fear in his eyes.

The smile left Aiden’s face and his tone softened. “I know this is hard for you, Jake. But your mother is coming. I promise you that. In fact, I expect that she’ll make the connection tonight and find you tomorrow.”

Jake’s mouth dropped open and his anger oozed from tiny pinpoints all over his body.

“Come with me. I’ll take you to Antonia and she’ll make some of those pancakes you like so much.” Aiden leaned over and held out a hand.

Jake released his energy in a violent wave. The trees in its path burst into flames. Cars exploded. The asphalt in the road bubbled and the grass turned black.

Aiden knelt down, his hand still extended. “It’s okay, Jake. Let’s go see Antonia.”

Was this a trick?

A warm smile covered Aiden’s face.

Jake reached for him, expecting pain or a jolt of some kind. Instead, Aiden gently pulled Jake to his feet. “I’ve pushed you too hard, too soon. But it’s almost over.”

They walked through the rubble, Aiden still holding Jake’s hand.

Raphael fell into step beside them. “Aiden, we have to talk.”

“Later.”

“No.
Now
.”

Aiden’s hand burned Jake’s before he dropped it and turned to Raphael.

Sirens blared in the distance, and people outside of the damaged area continued to scream and run from the destruction.

“We don’t have time for a discussion, Raphael. Unless you feel like confronting humans.”

Raphael snorted. “I don’t give a fuck about the humans. So they discover it was us now or later. It makes me no nevermind. But we need to discuss Jake. Now.”

“This can wait, Raphael.”

“No. It can’t. Do you realize that you have only begun to tap into that boy’s power? What he just did—”

“Was nothing.” Aiden looked down at Jake. “Why don’t you go wait for me in the car?”

Jake hesitated.

“Now, Jacob.” No-nonsense Aiden was back.

He turned around and took slow steps to the car. Raphael and Aiden lowered their voices but he heard snatches.

“You’re wasting his power…”

“…what I’m doing…”

“…strength is fire...”

Their voices faded as a man opened the back door and let Jake in. The air-conditioned car seemed wrong. Like it was a different world. There was the nightmare outside, full of death and blood and evil. But inside was just as bad. It was cold and sterile and empty.

Just like Jake.

Chapter Sixteen

Will had searched several floors and found scant security. After some conversations with hotel employees, he’d discovered the twenty-first floor was off limits to everyone, including the staff. All food and amenities were carried to the room by security.

While he had powers at his disposal, he wasn’t sure he wanted to rely on them to deal with Alex’s men. He was much more comfortable with guns and bare hands. Funny how he’d been encouraging Emma to rely on her powers, yet he couldn’t do the same. He was going to have to get over his reluctance or he’d be a dead man in a week.

After checking the pool maintenance room, he took a short cut next to the indoor pool, passing a fully clothed man who sat in a lounge chair. The man turned to Will and grinned.

“Marcus.”

“I figured I’d find you here.”

Will was about to ask him why, until he glanced at the pool.

“Have you always been drawn to water, Will?”

“Don’t we have more important things to discuss?”

“Such as?”

“Such as the fact that Raphael has Jake and they destroyed half of Little Rock.”

Marcus scowled. “It’s nothing. You need to focus on other things.”

“It wasn’t
nothing
to Emma. Or Jake, I’m sure. How did Raphael get him? What’s his purpose?”

“What do you think?”

Will sat in the chair next to Marcus. “To get to Emma.”

“And it’s working, I take it.”

“Of course.”

“Are you here to kill Alex?”

Marcus asked so matter-of-factly, he took Will by surprise. “And if I was?”

“I’d say it was a smart decision. Eliminate as much competition as possible before the battle to ensure you and Emma make it to the final round.”

Will’s chest tightened. “Is that Raphael’s goal? To kill Emma? Jake would never go along with that.” But it made sense, especially if killing Emma killed Will in the process.

“I’m sure Jake has no idea. Jake is a pawn.” Marcus turned to him. “Where’s Emma now?”

Will hesitated. How much should he tell him?

“I’m not your enemy, Will. What purpose would it serve for me to have created you, only to betray you?”

“Why don’t you ask Aiden?

“I understand your distrust and appreciate it. It helped make you a decorated soldier. But I’m nothing like Aiden. You and I are on the same side, Will.”

Will had to admit he could use the help, but could he really trust Marcus? “Emma is upstairs with Alex.”

“Interesting.” Marcus was silent for a moment. “I wished this could have all unfolded differently. I wish I could have told you who you were years ago.”

Will stared at his folded hands. “Would it have made any difference? Emma only found out about a month ago. I’m just a few weeks behind. What’s strange is I’ve managed to accomplish in days what has taken her weeks.”

“Your power is more pure than hers.” His voice softened. “Do you know why I chose you?”

Will shook his head and released a bitter laugh. “That’s an interesting choice of words. I thought this was all about genetics. And destiny.”

“True. You are who you are because of genetics, but I assure you that you and I aren’t anything like Aiden and Emmanuella. Don’t you wonder why you’re my first child?”

Will turned to look at Marcus. “Okay, I’ll bite. Why
am
I the first?”

“Because of your mother.”

Will expected Marcus to tell him revenge or destiny or a whole cosmic host of reasons. He hadn’t expected that.

“There was something about her. Something special. In thousands of years, I’d never felt what I felt with your mother. I loved her. I still do.”

The stone on Will’s ring swirled as sorrow washed through him. “She’s dying.”

“Will…” Marcus looked into the pool, his voice turning to a whisper. “She died last week. I was with her at the end.”

Will’s grief exploded in his head and he choked on a sob. He knew his mother wouldn’t last long after he saw her, but hearing the confirmation still caught him by surprise.

“When she became pregnant with you I knew I couldn’t stay with her.” Marcus rubbed the side of his index finger. “I knew I couldn’t raise you. She had no idea who I really was and she never would have believed me if I told her. How would I explain the fact that I never aged?”

“You could have tried. You were a coward. Instead, she ended up with the Colonel, the bastard.” Will snorted. “I guess I was the bastard.”

“Will.” Marcus cleared his throat and leaned forward. “That was my fault too. After I discovered your mother was pregnant, that’s when I approached Aiden and told him I was ready to initiate the final round. Maybe I couldn’t raise you and provide for you that way, but I could give you an inheritance.”

The revelation caught Will off guard. Marcus hadn’t created Will for the game. Instead he’d changed the game to accommodate his son. Still, Will wanted no part of his
inheritance
. “
This
? Are you shitting me?”

“It wasn’t supposed to be this difficult.”

“What the fuck, Marcus? How could it not be this difficult?”

“It was supposed to be you and me against Aiden. My plan was for you and Emmanuella to join for practical purposes and then we could use her and her power against Aiden. She was just another piece in the game.”

Anger rose until Will’s ears burned. “Emma is not a pawn.”

“I see that now, and it’s a huge complication. I told you, Emmanuella had never fallen for her protector before. I didn’t expect it.”

“Maybe because she’s not Emmanuella. She’s Emma.”

“Fair enough. But the bottom line is your end goal. I know what Emma’s end goal is, which Aiden is counting on to weaken you. I’m asking you to rethink yours.”

“What the fuck does that mean? Do you expect me to throw Emma and Jake to the side because my real daddy shows up?”

Marcus leaned closer. “No, Will. It means I need you to think logically. This is about more than you or me or Emma or even Jake. This is about the fate of the world. What do you think is going to happen if Raphael gets more control than he already has after years of exile as a human? Or Alex? What do you think Aiden will do if his power increases?”